Palestinians are marking the 57th anniversary of the creation of the Israeli state - known as the 'catastrophe' - with a series of demonstrations and speeches.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, who is currently on a trip to Japan, said in a taped message that Naqba Day is the blackest in the history of the Palestinian people.
He said there would be no peace in the Middle East until the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
A series of demonstrations to mark Naqba Day are taking place throughout the occupied territories, including Gaza City where thousands of people are holding a rally.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian fled their homes or were forced out with the creation of Israel.
Those who stayed in their villages when Israel was created are now described as Israeli Arabs, but the majority became refugees in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and neighbouring Arab countries.
